During the June Rural Municipality of Westbourne council meeting, reeve and council decided not to continue their membership with the Central Plains Pembina Valley Tourism Network.

“We don’t feel that we get our money’s worth,” said Reeve Dave Single. “We usually get together with Gladstone and place an ad in (the newspaper).”

Membership for the network is $422.

Grader refunds

The municipality has issued a cheque for $2,400 to Brandt Tractor Ltd. for three graders purchased last year for $196,000, which are in need of repairs. The graders are under warrantee to repair faulty hoses.

Single noted the windows broke on the units a lot quicker than normal costing the RM $4,000, but Brandt won’t cover their replacement as glass doesn’t fall under warrantee. The RM is currently waiting to see how much will be refunded to them for the hoses.

Grants

Council approved a grant of $1,600 for grounds maintenance at Plumas Cemetery.

Council also approved giving $10,000 for the Gladstone pool for upkeep.

Lakeview partnership

During July’s council meeting, the municipality discussed a partnership with the RM of Lakeview regarding PR 567.

The potential partnership will see the RMs maintaining and taking control of the provincial roadway from Hwy 16 to Lake Manitoba in an equal partnership.

“The province and us have been taking for a few years now, we want some drainage work done there and over the past two years we have been talking about it and we’ve come to the conclusion that they will give us the money to upgrade the road and then we’re going to take over … it’ll be shared between Lakeview and Westbourne,” said Single.

Drainage and road build- up will cost the province $150,000, after which the RMs will only have to pay to maintain PR 567 by graveling it as needed. Finalization of the deal should take place sometime this summer.

GDCC parking lot

The RM will cost share with Gladstone to upgrade the Gladstone and District Community Centre parking lot. The RM will pay 50 per cent of the $32,950 total.

Emerald Colony

Reeve and council approved Emerald Colony Farms Ltd.’s zoning request for a cemetery to be built on their land.

Boden Bridge

Boden Bridge, which crosses Gopher Creek, might not receive upgrades.

“Our public works foreman had inspected it and he said it wasn’t worth fixing and there are places where we’re probably going to put culverts in, so he was just pricing it out. We’ll make a decision on it at a later date,” said Single.

Tractor loader backhoe course

Westbourne council approved to send four to six staff to get trained on proper tractor loader backhoe usage.

The RM will pay between $4,000 and $5,000 for the course in 2014 as it has already used funds this year for grader training.